Department of Infrastructure
451 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 100.0%
The Freedom of Information requests to the Isle of Man Department of Infrastructure reveal an authority that is selectively transparent, often prioritizing commercial confidentiality and administrative convenience over public scrutiny. A recurring theme is the 'black box' nature of major transport procurement; while the Department readily discloses the existence of projects like the Douglas Promenade or the purchase of Mercedes buses, it consistently withholds specific financial figures, citing commercial sensitivity (Cases 355921, 361167). Furthermore, the Department frequently relies on the 'information not held' exemption to avoid answering questions about specific costs for major events like the TT (Case 355883) or historical road adoptions (Case 355761), suggesting significant gaps in data retention and financial granularity.
Key Cases
Case 355857 — This case marks a critical turning point where the Department invoked the 'vexatious' exemption to block a series of requests regarding the Douglas Promenade and steam locomotives. It highlights the tension between persistent public scrutiny and the administrative burden, effectively shutting down a line of inquiry that had previously yielded partial results.
Case 355921 — A significant disclosure regarding the procurement of Mercedes buses, where the Department explicitly cited commercial sensitivity to withhold pricing and contract details. This case exemplifies the 'black box' nature of major transport spending, where the public knows buses were bought but not the specific financial terms.
Case 449033 — This case is notable for being 'Upheld - partial' following an internal review. The Information Commissioner found the Department had incorrectly applied a 'not held' exemption to the ZipTrip app costs, forcing a re-processing. It serves as a rare instance of the Department's initial refusal being challenged and corrected, revealing hidden financial data.
Case 355883 — The refusal to provide specific costs for TT (Tourist Trophy) road repairs, claiming they are not recorded separately from normal activities. Given the TT is the island's most significant economic event, the inability to isolate its infrastructure costs raises questions about financial accountability for major events.
Case 358461 — The complete withholding of information regarding a 2013 electric shock incident on the Manx Electric Railway due to 'ongoing legal proceedings.' This case underscores how legal risk is used as a blanket exemption to prevent the public from understanding the safety history of heritage transport.
Related FOI Stories
The Douglas Promenade: From Transparency to Vexatious Refusal — #355795, #355857, #355859, #355861, #355863
Commercial Secrecy in Transport Procurement — #355763, #355921, #361167, #355893, #356129
Data Gaps and 'Not Held' Defenses — #355761, #355773, #355883, #355895, #361191
Safety Incidents and Legal Exemptions — #358443, #358461, #355863, #355921, #548540
Housing and Social Welfare Opacity — #355805, #358449, #358451, #355925, #647165
All (451)
All information sent (451) ·
Some information sent but not all held (145) ·
Information not held (123) ·
Some information sent but part exempt (120) ·
No information sent - all held but exempt (53) ·
Not required to fulfill request (22) ·
Not upheld (12) ·
Upheld - partial (10) ·
Vexatious request (6) ·
Request lapsed - requested information not provided (5) ·
Withdrawn (3) ·
Upheld - full (1) ·
Neither confirm or deny information held (1) ·
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-04-07 | Ballahutchin Hill traffic data | All information sent |
| A request was made for detailed individual speed data of vehicular traffic on Ballahutchin Hill for September 2020 across three specific sites. The Department of Infrastructure responded by disclosing all requested information via three appendices. | ||
| 2021-03-25 | BUS No 13 | All information sent |
| A requester asked for pre-pandemic average weekly passenger numbers for the Isle of Man's Bus No. 13, which the Department of Infrastructure clarified runs between Douglas and Laxey rather than Ramsey. The authority disclosed a table of passenger statistics covering a seven-month period from September 2019 to March 2020. | ||
| 2021-03-24 | Jobs given without interview or advertisement internal and external | All information sent |
| The requester asked the Department of Infrastructure for details on jobs filled without advertisement or interview in the past 24 months. The authority responded that 7 such posts were filled during that period. | ||
| 2021-03-23 | Creeping speed limits | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the number of previously derestricted roads in the Isle of Man that now have speed limits applied. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that 10 specific road sections have had speed limits reintroduced since 2006. | ||
| 2021-03-22 | Harbour dues /abandoned boats | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding unpaid harbour dues, court actions against owners, and disposal costs for abandoned boats. The authority disclosed that 36 boats have outstanding dues, only one owner was considered for court action, and £50,876.46 was spent disposing of 34 abandoned vessels over five years. | ||
| 2021-03-22 | Boat park/storage area dues | All information sent |
| The request sought details on boats with outstanding storage dues and associated civil debt actions at the Department of Infrastructure's boat parks. The authority disclosed that 54 vessels have outstanding fees but confirmed no civil court actions have been taken, explaining that the Department relies on lien powers under the Harbours Act for recovery. | ||
| 2021-03-22 | I'm requesting information on vehicle testing | All information sent |
| The requester sought guidelines and regulatory information regarding vehicle testing on the Isle of Man. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the specific manuals and legislation used by examiners and confirmed that testers are regulated under the Road Traffic Act 1985. | ||
| 2021-03-18 | Affordable Housing | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for the number of affordable housing units delivered in 2020, defined as newly made available to eligible applicants. The authority disclosed that 15 such units were delivered during that calendar year. | ||
| 2021-03-09 | How many vehicles are registered | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the total number of government vehicles registered on the Isle of Man and whether duty is shown on their tax discs. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed there are 1,230 registered vehicles and stated that duty is shown on all discs except for those belonging to exempt services like the police and emergency services. | ||
| 2021-02-25 | Reporting of potholes | All information sent |
| The request sought monthly statistics on pothole reports and repair actions from November 2020 to February 2021. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the number of reports, repairs, escalations, and outstanding cases for each month in the specified period. | ||
| 2021-02-25 | Number of Road Traffic Accidents | All information sent |
| A request was made for road traffic accident statistics on the Mountain Road and Marine Drive over the past 10 years, excluding TT and MGP periods. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed injury collision figures for the available data period from 2015 to 2020. | ||
| 2021-02-23 | Poortown Road Peel, 40mph buffer zone speed monitoring data | All information sent |
| The requester asked for speed monitoring data and equipment locations regarding a proposed 40mph buffer zone on Poortown Road, Peel. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed historic traffic survey data from 2011 and confirmed the equipment location in an appendix. | ||
| 2021-02-22 | Cost of Douglas promenade regeneration from APRIL 2018 until February | All information sent |
| A request was made for the total taxpayer cost of the Douglas promenade regeneration scheme between April 2018 and February 2021. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the specific total cost for the period ending 31 January 2021. | ||
| 2021-02-08 | Promenade temporary highways risk assessment | All information sent |
| The requester asked for a formal risk assessment regarding the conversion of the South Promenade into a temporary highway, but the Department of Infrastructure confirmed no written assessment exists, citing internal discussions and specific safety measures instead. | ||
| 2021-01-26 | Status of the Green Lane User Group and its relationship with the DoI | All information sent |
| The request sought details on the formation, governance, funding, and relationship between the Green Lane User Group (GLUG) and the Department of Infrastructure (DoI). The DoI disclosed that GLUG is an unregulated advisory group formed in 2002 with no specific budget, chaired by a DoI employee to facilitate communication and volunteer work. | ||
| 2021-01-12 | Loganair Subsidies | All information sent |
| The requester asked for details on funding committed by the Department of Infrastructure to Loganair for 2021 to support new and former Flybe routes. The authority disclosed that no financial support was committed for these specific route developments, as the announcement was made at Loganair's own risk. | ||
| 2020-12-14 | Minimum Standards for Public Sector Landlords | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the minimum standards applied to public sector landlords, and the Department of Infrastructure disclosed its specific compliance checks and operational policies for its own housing stock while noting it could not provide data for other providers. | ||
| 2020-12-14 | Public landlords eviction or failed to house requests | All information sent |
| The requester asked for data on public sector landlord evictions and failures to house applicants over five years. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that 7 evictions occurred and 16 applications were refused due to ineligibility. | ||
| 2020-12-14 | Do public sector landlords currently PAT test? | All information sent |
| The requester asked if public sector landlords on the Isle of Man currently PAT test movable electric devices. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed it tests white goods in 5 semi-furnished properties but stated it holds no data regarding other public sector landlords. | ||
| 2020-12-11 | On-street parking control | All information sent |
| The request sought details on parking enforcement visits, ticket numbers, and authorized agencies in Ramsey between June and November 2020. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that while exact visit durations are not recorded, at least eight visits occurred, six tickets were issued, and three agencies are authorized to enforce parking rules. | ||
| 2020-11-24 | 2020 NHT Survey Report | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the full 2020 NHT Survey Report including methodology and all associated contracts and invoices. The Department of Infrastructure provided the requested documents as two appendices, noting that third-party personal data and signatures were redacted. | ||
| 2020-11-17 | Cost of Maintenance of The Donkey Track/U72, Andreas | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request for maintenance costs of The Donkey Track/U72 in Andreas, disclosing a detailed breakdown of labor and equipment expenses totaling £6,556.56 for works carried out in February 2019. | ||
| 2020-11-13 | Explosive disposals | All information sent |
| The request sought data on the number and cost of explosive device disposals on the Isle of Man over the past three years. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that there were six incidents, with no cost for specialist teams but a total of £1,281.30 paid for Coastguard cover. | ||
| 2020-11-09 | Pothole Cliams - Island Wide | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for data on pothole reports, locations, repair status, and damage claims between 2018 and 2020. The authority responded by disclosing a detailed list of recorded pothole and road surface defect incidents with their locations and clearance dates. | ||
| 2020-11-03 | Contract for cafes | All information sent |
| The requester asked for details on the contract holder and expiry date for the Ticket Hall eatery and steam train catering facilities. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that Q Catering holds the lease, which expires on 28 February 2022, and noted that this entity also provides catering for the dining train. | ||
| 2020-10-26 | Cost of Public Inquiry at Langness | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for the total financial cost of the Langness Public Inquiry and associated legal proceedings between 2007 and 2013. The authority disclosed that the total cost was £128,461 and provided all requested information. | ||
| 2020-10-26 | Classification of the U72, Andreas | All information sent |
| The requester asked for evidence supporting the classification of the U72 road in Andreas as a public highway. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed all information was sent but provided it on a physical USB stick due to file size constraints. | ||
| 2020-10-05 | Ballamodha Straight, Ballasalla, Traffic Speed Data | All information sent |
| A request was made for detailed traffic speed data from Ballamodha Straight, Ballasalla, for the period of 6 to 13 July 2020. The Department of Infrastructure responded by providing all requested information in an attached appendix. | ||
| 2020-10-05 | Sheep escapes Baldrine | All information sent |
| The requester asked for information regarding sheep escapes near Baldrine Railway Station and Lower Ballabeg Farm, specifically those not reported to the police. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed a log of five specific incidents involving livestock on the railway line between March 2019 and May 2020. | ||
| 2020-10-01 | Traffic volume and speed analysis data undertaken on Strang Rd | All information sent |
| A request was made for traffic volume and speed data on Strang Road from 2015 to 2020, and the Department of Infrastructure confirmed that all requested information was provided in an attachment. | ||
| 2020-09-24 | Concrete cracking Douglas Promenade and Remedial Works | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for details on defects recorded on the Douglas Promenade, including costs and rectification status. The authority responded by providing a comprehensive defects register listing numerous issues, though specific monetary costs for repairs were not included in the disclosed summary. | ||
| 2020-09-24 | Walker Fire Fire Extinguisher Contract | All information sent |
| The requester inquired about the status of the Walker Fire UK contract for fire extinguishers and potential government connections of replacement contractors. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed Walker Fire UK withdrew due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and that the next competitive tenderer was engaged, while stating they could not verify personal government connections of directors. | ||
| 2020-09-15 | Minibuses | All information sent |
| The requester asked for specific spending, purchase numbers, running costs, and income figures for Bus Vannin minibuses since 2016. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that detailed minibus-specific data is not recorded separately from the wider fleet, but provided aggregate bus sub-division expenditure, specific costs for the myProm shuttle, and approximate new vehicle purchase prices. | ||
| 2020-09-14 | Mannin | All information sent |
| A request was made for the cost, origin, and delivery status of a boiler for the steam engine Mannin. The Department of Infrastructure responded that no boiler has been ordered yet as the required actions for the engine are still being evaluated. | ||
| 2020-09-10 | Monies paid to Watling Streetworks Limited by DOI | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure for the total amount paid to Watling Streetworks Limited since October 2015. The authority disclosed that £69,160.25 excluding VAT was paid for services across Highway, Public Estates, Housing, and Transport sectors. | ||
| 2020-09-04 | Demand responsive travel minibuses | All information sent |
| The Department of Infrastructure responded to a request for details on Bus Vannin's minibus fleet, operational bases, and parking rules by providing a full vehicle list with mileage and service types, a list of stabling locations, and clarification on overnight parking policies. | ||
| 2020-08-25 | Comis Hotel | All information sent |
| The request sought details on the decision-making process and professional advice regarding the use of Comis Hotel as a quarantine facility. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that they made the final decision based on specific operational criteria and confirmed that while no specific legal advice was sought, public health bodies provided input on suitability. | ||
| 2020-08-11 | Railways | All information sent |
| The requester asked for passenger numbers on Isle of Man heritage railways since reopening post-Covid, specifically separating dining car and steam figures. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed the total passenger counts for the first three weeks of operation up to 11 August 2020. | ||
| 2020-08-06 | First time buyers under new scheme | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the date of the first property purchase under the Shared Equity Purchase Assistance (First Home Fixed) Scheme. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed that the first assisted purchase occurred on 17th April 2015. | ||
| 2020-08-03 | weight limit on vehicles at Governors Dip/Governor's Bridge | All information sent |
| The requester asked for confirmation of historical weight limits, removal reasons, and risk assessments for Governors Dip and specific junctions. The Department of Infrastructure responded that no records exist of any weight limits ever being in place, and therefore no removal orders or specific risk assessments were generated, though professional judgement was used for temporary traffic layouts. | ||
| 2020-07-30 | Traffic flow | All information sent |
| A request was made regarding the decision-making process, attendees, and environmental impacts of making the Promenades one-way and altering traffic at St Ninian's and Governor's Bridge. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed that the decision was approved by the Council of Ministers on 30 April 2020 following multiple meetings, confirmed the attendees, and explained that traffic monitoring and pollution impacts were considered but influenced by COVID-19 restrictions. | ||
| 2020-07-29 | Closure of the Jurby Parade Ground to Motorcyle related activities | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding the closure of Jurby Parade Ground to motorcycle activities, specifically asking for the reason for the ban and complaint statistics. The authority disclosed that the restriction was implemented due to complaints from a local resident and the Parish Commissioners, and clarified that no specific threshold of complaints is required to enforce such restrictions. | ||
| 2020-07-23 | weight limit on vehicles at governors dip/governor's bridge | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure to clarify if weight limits were in place for vehicles at Governor's Bridge/Governors Dip due to roadworks. The authority confirmed that no weight limit is currently in place. | ||
| 2020-07-16 | Mori Poll re improving local streets,roads,buses and cycling. | All information sent |
| The requester asked how the public was selected for a Mori poll on local transport improvements and the cost to the Department of Infrastructure. The authority disclosed that a random probability sampling method was used from the Small Users File and confirmed the total cost was £9,950 for 3,000 surveys. | ||
| 2020-07-15 | Comis Hotel | All information sent |
| The requester asked if a specific risk assessment was conducted for the Comis Hotel before its use as designated accommodation for repatriated residents. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed that while no single risk assessment document was produced due to the emergency situation, risk control measures were identified and implemented through the service specification and contract. | ||
| 2020-06-30 | Proposal and benefits case for bus & cycle lane at Glencrutchery Road | All information sent |
| A request was made for the proposal, benefits case, consultation, and approval process regarding a bus and cycle lane at Glencrutchery Road. The Department of Infrastructure responded by sending all requested information across 17 pages in 2 documents. | ||
| 2020-06-26 | Costs associated with UK consultants | All information sent |
| The requester asked for a cost breakdown, roles, and impact assessment of four UK consultants employed by the Department of Infrastructure's Highway services. The authority disclosed the total net cost and the reason for employment but refused to provide an opinion on whether the costs were detrimental to other services. | ||
| 2020-06-19 | Road Safety Assessment - Governor's Bridge / Glencrutchery Road | All information sent |
| A request was made for traffic assessments and road safety audits regarding the redesign of Governor's Bridge and Glencrutchery Road. The Department of Infrastructure confirmed that all requested information was held and provided in the response. | ||
| 2020-03-09 | Costs of maintenance of the MER track and infrastructure | All information sent |
| The request sought details on Manx Electric Railway (MER) track and infrastructure spending, future allocations, and ticket revenue. The Department of Infrastructure disclosed historical expenditure and revenue figures but noted that 2023/24 budget allocations had not yet been determined. | ||
| 2020-03-04 | Knockaloe Steam Train | All information sent |
| A request was made for details regarding the cost, business case, and safety assessments for moving the 'Caledonia' steam train to Knockaloe for the Manx Heritage Transport Festival. The Department of Infrastructure responded that there are no costs to the department, no business case or risk assessment exists, and no formal meeting minutes were taken. | ||
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